scholarly journals Concerns and Misconceptions About the Australian Government’s COVIDSafe App: Cross-Sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rae Thomas ◽  
Zoe A Michaleff ◽  
Hannah Greenwood ◽  
Eman Abukmail ◽  
Paul Glasziou
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Data Storage ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Initiatives ◽  
The Government ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Do So

BACKGROUND Timely and effective contact tracing is an essential public health measure for curbing the transmission of COVID-19. App-based contact tracing has the potential to optimize the resources of overstretched public health departments. However, its efficiency is dependent on widespread adoption. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the uptake of the Australian Government’s COVIDSafe app among Australians and examine the reasons why some Australians have not downloaded the app. METHODS An online national survey, with representative quotas for age and gender, was conducted between May 8 and May 11, 2020. Participants were excluded if they were a health care professional or had been tested for COVID-19. RESULTS Of the 1802 potential participants contacted, 289 (16.0%) were excluded prior to completing the survey, 13 (0.7%) declined, and 1500 (83.2%) participated in the survey. Of the 1500 survey participants, 37.3% (n=560) had downloaded the COVIDSafe app, 18.7% (n=280) intended to do so, 27.7% (n=416) refused to do so, and 16.3% (n=244) were undecided. Equally proportioned reasons for not downloading the app included privacy (165/660, 25.0%) and technical concerns (159/660, 24.1%). Other reasons included the belief that social distancing was sufficient and the app was unnecessary (111/660, 16.8%), distrust in the government (73/660, 11.1%), and other miscellaneous responses (eg, apathy and following the decisions of others) (73/660, 11.1%). In addition, knowledge about COVIDSafe varied among participants, as some were confused about its purpose and capabilities. CONCLUSIONS For the COVIDSafe app to be accepted by the public and used correctly, public health messages need to address the concerns of citizens, specifically privacy, data storage, and technical capabilities. Understanding the specific barriers preventing the uptake of contact tracing apps provides the opportunity to design targeted communication strategies aimed at strengthening public health initiatives, such as downloading and correctly using contact tracing apps.

scholarly journals Concerns and Misconceptions About the Australian Government’s COVIDSafe App: Cross-Sectional Survey Study

10.2196/23081 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. e23081
Author(s):  
Rae Thomas ◽  
Zoe A Michaleff ◽  
Hannah Greenwood ◽  
Eman Abukmail ◽  
Paul Glasziou
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Data Storage ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Initiatives ◽  
The Government ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Do So

Background Timely and effective contact tracing is an essential public health measure for curbing the transmission of COVID-19. App-based contact tracing has the potential to optimize the resources of overstretched public health departments. However, its efficiency is dependent on widespread adoption. Objective This study aimed to investigate the uptake of the Australian Government’s COVIDSafe app among Australians and examine the reasons why some Australians have not downloaded the app. Methods An online national survey, with representative quotas for age and gender, was conducted between May 8 and May 11, 2020. Participants were excluded if they were a health care professional or had been tested for COVID-19. Results Of the 1802 potential participants contacted, 289 (16.0%) were excluded prior to completing the survey, 13 (0.7%) declined, and 1500 (83.2%) participated in the survey. Of the 1500 survey participants, 37.3% (n=560) had downloaded the COVIDSafe app, 18.7% (n=280) intended to do so, 27.7% (n=416) refused to do so, and 16.3% (n=244) were undecided. Equally proportioned reasons for not downloading the app included privacy (165/660, 25.0%) and technical concerns (159/660, 24.1%). Other reasons included the belief that social distancing was sufficient and the app was unnecessary (111/660, 16.8%), distrust in the government (73/660, 11.1%), and other miscellaneous responses (eg, apathy and following the decisions of others) (73/660, 11.1%). In addition, knowledge about COVIDSafe varied among participants, as some were confused about its purpose and capabilities. Conclusions For the COVIDSafe app to be accepted by the public and used correctly, public health messages need to address the concerns of citizens, specifically privacy, data storage, and technical capabilities. Understanding the specific barriers preventing the uptake of contact tracing apps provides the opportunity to design targeted communication strategies aimed at strengthening public health initiatives, such as downloading and correctly using contact tracing apps.

scholarly journals Examining Australian’s beliefs, misconceptions and sources of information for COVID-19: a national online survey

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e043421
Author(s):  
Rae Thomas ◽  
Hannah Greenwood ◽  
Zoe A Michaleff ◽  
Eman Abukmail ◽  
Tammy C Hoffmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Commercial Television ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Public Health Strategies

ObjectivePublic cooperation to practise preventive health behaviours is essential to manage the transmission of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. We aimed to investigate beliefs about COVID-19 diagnosis, transmission and prevention that have the potential to impact the uptake of recommended public health strategies.DesignAn online cross-sectional survey.ParticipantsA national sample of 1500 Australian adults with representative quotas for age and gender provided by an online panel provider.Main outcome measureProportion of participants with correct/incorrect knowledge of COVID-19 preventive behaviours and reasons for misconceptions.ResultsOf the 1802 potential participants contacted, 289 did not qualify, 13 declined and 1500 participated in the survey (response rate 83%). Most participants correctly identified ‘washing your hands regularly with soap and water’ (92%) and ‘staying at least 1.5 m away from others’ (90%) could help prevent COVID-19. Over 40% (incorrectly) considered wearing gloves outside of the home would prevent them from contracting COVID-19. Views about face masks were divided. Only 66% of participants correctly identified that ‘regular use of antibiotics’ would not prevent COVID-19.Most participants (90%) identified ‘fever, fatigue and cough’ as indicators of COVID-19. However, 42% of participants thought that being unable to ‘hold your breath for 10 s without coughing’ was an indicator of having the virus. The most frequently reported sources of COVID-19 information were commercial television channels (56%), the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (43%) and the Australian Government COVID-19 information app (31%).ConclusionsPublic messaging about hand hygiene and physical distancing to prevent transmission appears to have been effective. However, there are clear, identified barriers for many individuals that have the potential to impede uptake or maintenance of these behaviours in the long term. We need to develop public health messages that harness these barriers to improve future cooperation. Ensuring adherence to these interventions is critical.

scholarly journals A cross-sectional survey assessing the preparedness of the long-term care sector to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Yu-Hin Siu ◽  
Lorand Kristof ◽  
Dawn Elston ◽  
Abe Hafid ◽  
Fred Mather
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
The Government

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is a significant public health emergency that impacts all sectors of healthcare. The negative health outcomes for the COVID-19 infection have been most severe in the frail elderly dwelling in Canadian long-term care (LTC) homes.Methods: An online cross-sectional survey of Ontario LTC Clinicians working in LTC homes in Ontario Canada was conducted to provide the LTC clinician perspective on the preparedness and engagement of the LTC sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey questionnaire was developed in collaboration with the Ontario Long-Term Care Clinicians organization (OLTCC) and was distributed between March 30, 2020 to May 25, 2020. All registered members of the OLTCC and Nurse-led LTC Outreach Teams were invited to participate. The primary outcomes were: 1) the descriptive report of the screening measures implemented, communication and information received, and the preparation of the respondent’s LTC home to a potential COVID-19 outbreak; and 2) the level of agreement, as reported using a five-point Likert scale), to COVID-19 preparedness statements for the respondent’s LTC home was also assessed.Results: The overall response rate was 54% (160/294). LTC homes implemented a wide range of important interventions (e.g. instituting established respiratory isolation protocols, active screening of new LTC admissions, increasing education on infection control processes, encouraging sick staff to take time off, etc). Ample communications pertinent to the pandemic were received from provincial LTC organizations, the government and public health officials. However, the feasibility of implementing public health recommendations, as well as the engagement of the LTC sector in pandemic planning were identified as areas of concern. Medical director status was associated with an increased knowledge of local implementation of interventions to mitigate COVID-19, as well as endorsing increased access to reliable COVID-19 information and resources to manage a potential COVID-19 outbreak in their LTC home.Conclusions: This study highlights the communication to and implementation of recommendations in the Ontario LTC sector, despite some concerns regarding feasibility. Importantly, LTC clinician respondents clearly indicated that better engagement with LTC leaders is needed to plan a coordinated pandemic response.

scholarly journals The Influence of Minority Stress on Level of Depression among Thai LGBT Adults

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyoth Kittiteerasack ◽  
Alana Steffen ◽  
Alicia Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Stress Coping ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Identity Concealment ◽  
Stress Coping Strategies ◽  
And Gender

In the US, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals report higher rates of depression compared with heterosexual and cisgender persons. To date, little is known about the mental health of LGBT adults in Thailand. Here, we examined rates and correlates of depression among a volunteer sample of Thai LGBTs. Data were collected as part of a larger cross-sectional survey study. Standardized measures of sexual orientation and gender identity, stress, coping style, and minority stressors were completed. Of the 411 participants, 40.3% met the criteria for depression. In multivariate analyses, the combined influences of sociodemographic factors, general stress, coping strategies, and minority-specific stress variables explained 47.2% of the variance in depression scores (F[16,367]= 20.48, p<.001). Correlates of depression included coping strategies and minority-specific stressors, including experiences of victimization, discrimination, and level of identity concealment. Study findings have implications for psychiatric nursing practice and the development of intervention research. Abstrak Di AS, individu lesbian, gay, biseksual, dan transgender (LGBT) melaporkan tingkat depresi yang lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan orang heteroseksual dan cisgender. Saat ini, sedikit yang diketahui tentang kesehatan mental pada orang dewasa dengan LGBT di Thailand. Di sini, kami meneliti tingkat dan korelasi depresi di antara sampel sukarelawan LGBT Thailand. Data dikumpulkan sebagai bagian dari studi survei cross-sectional yang lebih besar. Pengukuran terstandar terhadap orientasi seksual dan identitas gender, stres, koping, dan stresor minoritas telah selesai. Dari 411 peserta, 40,3% memenuhi kriteria untuk depresi. Dalam analisis multivariat, pengaruh gabungan faktor sosiodemografi, stres umum, strategi koping, dan variabel stres spesifik-minoritas menjelaskan 47,2% dari varians dalam skor depresi (F [16,367]= 20,48, p< 0,001). Korelasi depresi termasuk strategi koping dan stres spesifik-minoritas, termasuk pengalaman viktimisasi, diskriminasi, dan tingkat penyembunyian identitas. Temuan penelitian memiliki implikasi untuk praktik keperawatan psikiatris dan pengembangan penelitian intervensi. Kata kunci: depresi, LGBT, minoritas seksual dan gender; stres minoritas, Thailand

scholarly journals COVID-19 Related Misconceptions and Prevention Practices Among the Public in a Southeastern City in Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-159
Author(s):  
Sorochi Iloanusi ◽  
Osaro Mgbere ◽  
Nchebe-Jah Raymond Iloanusi ◽  
Ismaeel Yunusa ◽  
Ekere J. Essien
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Anambra State ◽  
The Public ◽  
Creative Commons ◽  
Study Population ◽  
The Government

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic brought several misconceptions that could hinder individuals from taking necessary measures to prevent infection, thus, undermining the public health containment efforts. We aimed to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 related misconceptions and their associations with demographic characteristics and prevention practices in Onitsha city in Anambra state, Nigeria. Methods: We analyzed data from a cross-sectional survey of 140 adult residents of Onitsha city in Anambra state, Nigeria, conducted in March 2020. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe the study population and determine the associations between COVID-19 misconceptions, demographic characteristics, and implementation of COVID-19 prevention practices. Data management and statistical analyses were conducted using SAS JMP Statistical DiscoveryTM Software version 14.3 (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina, USA). Results: The participants’ average age was 34.5 (SD: ±10.9) years, and most were males (54.3%). Misconceptions about COVID-19 among the study population resulted in markedly reduced compliance with nearly all prevention practices. Some participants believed that COVID-19 would not spread in Nigeria (34.4%, p<0.0001), was not fatal (10.8%, p<0.0001), can be prevented and cured through spiritual means (48.2%, P <0.0001), use of herbs (13.6%, P <0.0001), use of antibiotics (11.4%, p<0.0001) and that COVID-19 vaccine was available (25.4%, p<0.01). Misconception about the possibility of COVID-19 spread was significantly associated with non-compliance to all prevention practices (P<0.05) except travel restrictions. Conclusions and Implications for Translation: Our study suggests the need for the government to tailor interventions targeting the common misconceptions in Onitsha in order to improve the public’s trust and compliance with recommended COVID-19 prevention practices. Misconception has become a significant public health challenge, primarily as its prioritization over scientific evidence and guidelines directly affects the pandemic preparedness and control efforts and may cause more people to be at risk of contracting COVID-19.   Copyright © 2021 Iloanusi et al. Published by Global Health and Education Projects, Inc. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0.

scholarly journals Measures Undertaken in China to Avoid COVID-19 Infection: Internet-Based, Cross-Sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Huang ◽  
Qingqing Wu ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
Yan Xu ◽  
Lei Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Community Screening ◽  
The Government ◽  
Public Strategies

BACKGROUND In early 2020, over 80,000 cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were confirmed in China. Public prevention and control measures, along with efforts from all sectors of society, were undertaken to control and eliminate disease transmission. OBJECTIVE This paper describes Chinese citizens’ response to the epidemic, the preventive measures they implemented to avoid being infected, and the public strategies that were carried out by the government, health workers, etc. We also discuss the efficacy of these measures in controlling the epidemic in China. METHODS Information on the responses and behaviors of Chinese citizens were collected through a cross-sectional, internet-based survey using Dingxiang Doctor’s public account on WeChat. Information on public strategies implemented by all sectors of society to control the epidemic and data on new COVID-19 cases were collected from the internet, mainly from government websites. Standard descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyze the data. RESULTS A total of 10,304 participants responded to the survey, with 10,198 valid responses; 74.1% (n=7557) were female and 25.9% (n=2641) were male. Overall, 98.2% (n=10,013) of participants paid high or very high attention to the epidemic, with WeChat being their main information source (n=9400, 92.2%). Over half the participants (n=5878, 57.7%) were confident that the epidemic could be curbed in China; 92.4% (n=9427) opened windows for ventilation more frequently than usual; 97.9% (n=9986) used masks in public; 95.7% (n=9759) avoided large crowds and stayed at home as much as possible; and 97.9% (n=9988) washed their hands more often than usual. Women were more likely to practice these behaviors than men (<i>P</i>&lt;.001). With a series of strict public control measures, like nationwide health education campaigns, holiday extensions, the Examine and Approve Policy on the resumption of work, close management of working and living quarters, a health QR (Quick Response) code system, community screening, and social distancing policies, the number of new cases have decreased dramatically since February 12, 2020. CONCLUSIONS The methods employed by Chinese citizens and authorities have effectively curtailed the spread of COVID-19, demonstrating that this pandemic can be brought under control as long as the right measures are taken.

scholarly journals A cross-sectional survey assessing the preparedness of the long-term care sector to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Yu-Hin Siu ◽  
Lorand Kristof ◽  
Dawn Elston ◽  
Abe Hafid ◽  
Fred Mather
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
The Government

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is a significant public health emergency that impacts all sectors of healthcare. The negative health outcomes for the COVID-19 infection have been most severe in the frail elderly dwelling in Canadian long-term care (LTC) homes. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey of Ontario LTC Clinicians working in LTC homes in Ontario Canada was conducted to provide the LTC clinician perspective on the preparedness and engagement of the LTC sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey questionnaire was developed in collaboration with the Ontario Long-Term Care Clinicians organization (OLTCC) and was distributed between March 30, 2020 to May 25, 2020. All registered members of the OLTCC and Nurse-led LTC Outreach Teams were invited to participate. The primary outcomes were: 1) the descriptive report of the screening measures implemented, communication and information received, and the preparation of the respondent’s LTC home to a potential COVID-19 outbreak; and 2) the level of agreement, as reported using a five-point Likert scale), to COVID-19 preparedness statements for the respondent’s LTC home was also assessed.Results: The overall response rate was 54% (160/294). LTC homes implemented a wide range of important interventions (e.g. instituting established respiratory isolation protocols, active screening of new LTC admissions, increasing education on infection control processes, encouraging sick staff to take time off, etc). Ample communications pertinent to the pandemic were received from provincial LTC organizations, the government and public health officials. However, the feasibility of implementing public health recommendations, as well as the engagement of the LTC sector in pandemic planning were identified as areas of concern. Medical director status was associated with an increased knowledge of local implementation of interventions to mitigate COVID-19, as well as endorsing increased access to reliable COVID-19 information and resources to manage a potential COVID-19 outbreak in their LTC home. Conclusions: This study highlights the communication to and implementation of recommendations in the Ontario LTC sector, despite some concerns regarding feasibility. Importantly, LTC clinician respondents clearly indicated that better engagement with LTC leaders is needed to plan a coordinated pandemic response.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in India: epidemiological features and in silico analysis of the effect of interventions

F1000Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Archisman Mazumder ◽  
Mehak Arora ◽  
Vishwesh Bharadiya ◽  
Parul Berry ◽  
Mudit Agarwal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Silico ◽  
In Silico Analysis ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Contact Rate ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Current Contact ◽  
The Government ◽  
And Gender

Background: After SARS-CoV-2 set foot in India, the Government took a number of steps to limit the spread of the virus in the country. This included restricted testing, isolation, contact tracing and quarantine, and enforcement of a nation-wide lockdown starting 25 March 2020. The objectives of this study were to i) describe the age,gender distribution and mortality among COVID-19 patients identified till 14 April 2020 and predict the range of contact rate; and ii) predict the number of active COVID-19 patients after 40 days of lockdown. Methods: We used a cross-sectional descriptive design for first objective and a susceptible-infected-removed model for in silico predictions. We collected data from government-controlled and crowdsourced websites. Results: Studying age and gender parameters of 1161 Indian COVID-19 patients, the median age was 38 years (IQR, 27-52) with 20-39 year-old males being the most affected group. The number of affected patients were 854 (73.6%) men and 307 (26.4%) women. If the current contact rate continues (0.25-27), India may have 110460 to 220575 infected persons at the end of 40 days lockdown. Conclusion: The disease is majorly affecting a younger age group in India. Interventions have been helpful in preventing the worst-case scenario in India, but will be unable to prevent the spike in number of cases.

scholarly journals Reasons for Nonuse, Discontinuation of Use, and Acceptance of Additional Functionalities of a COVID-19 Contact Tracing App: Cross-sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Walrave ◽  
Cato Waeterloos ◽  
Koen Ponnet
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Critical Mass ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Privacy Concerns ◽  
Sociodemographic Differences ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
And Control

BACKGROUND In several countries, contact tracing apps (CTAs) have been introduced to warn users if they have had high-risk contacts that could expose them to SARS-CoV-2 and could, therefore, develop COVID-19 or further transmit the virus. For CTAs to be effective, a sufficient critical mass of users is needed. Until now, adoption of these apps in several countries has been limited, resulting in questions on which factors prevent app uptake or stimulate discontinuation of app use. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate individuals’ reasons for not using, or stopping use of, a CTA, in particular, the Coronalert app. Users’ and nonusers’ attitudes toward the app’s potential impact was assessed in Belgium. To further stimulate interest and potential use of a CTA, the study also investigated the population’s interest in new functionalities. METHODS An online survey was administered in Belgium to a sample of 1850 respondents aged 18 to 64 years. Data were collected between October 30 and November 2, 2020. Sociodemographic differences were assessed between users and nonusers. We analyzed both groups’ attitudes toward the potential impact of CTAs and their acceptance of new app functionalities. RESULTS Our data showed that 64.9% (1201/1850) of our respondents were nonusers of the CTA under study; this included individuals who did not install the app, those who downloaded but did not activate the app, and those who uninstalled the app. While we did not find any sociodemographic differences between users and nonusers, attitudes toward the app and its functionalities seemed to differ. The main reasons for not downloading and using the app were a perceived lack of advantages (308/991, 31.1%), worries about privacy (290/991, 29.3%), and, to a lesser extent, not having a smartphone (183/991, 18.5%). Users of the CTA agreed more with the potential of such apps to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic. Overall, nonusers found the possibility of extending the CTA with future functionalities to be less acceptable than users. However, among users, acceptability also tended to differ. Among users, functionalities relating to access and control, such as digital certificates or “green cards” for events, were less accepted (358/649, 55.2%) than functionalities focusing on informing citizens about the spread of the virus (453/649, 69.8%) or making an appointment to get tested (525/649, 80.9%). CONCLUSIONS Our results show that app users were more convinced of the CTA’s utility and more inclined to accept new app features than nonusers. Moreover, nonusers had more CTA-related privacy concerns. Therefore, to further stimulate app adoption and use, its potential advantages and privacy-preserving mechanisms need to be stressed. Building further knowledge on the forms of resistance among nonusers is important for responding to these barriers through the app’s further development and communication campaigns.

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